Retractile marking implement



March 25, 1947. J. F. KINGSLEY 2,417,934

RETRACTILE MARKING IMPLEMENT Filed March 22, 1944 )IIIVVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 25, 1947 S PATENT OFFICE RETRACTILE MARKING IMPLEMENT Joseph F. Kingsley, Burbank, Calif., assignor to Nadejda V. Andrews, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 22, 1944, Serial No. 527,655

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a stylus-like retractile marking implement constructed, for instance, under U. S. Patents #2,29l,859 and/or #2,304,229, and is an improved protrusion device in such an implement with slot apparatus whereby the implement may be adjusted and kept in a desired setting, and the efforts for changing said settings may be controlled, and the element of accidental changing said settings minimized.

In the classed types of implements different settings of their respective caps in relation to their respective barrels control supply of the marking ingredients to adapt the implement for different altitudes or temperatures afiecting said supply.

When a fountain pen is filled with ink at a certain altitude or temperature and thereafter taken to a higher altitude or temperature, the change tends to force the ink from the pen under expanded air ever present in the rear of the ink container which expansion of air is affected by the difference of atmospheric pressure or temperature.

To overcome this condition certain marking implements are equipped with shut-oil mechanisms dependent upon the aforesaid settings of the cap. The objects of said mechanisms are to reduce the flow, and/or shut it off either from the entire container or from a section thereof with air of original altitude or temperature.

When the implement is in the latter setting and taken to a very much higher altitude it is, evidently, of paramount importance that the setting is not changed either accidently or through careless manipulation of one, the operating, hand, as such a change would allow the fluid to explode from the implement.

One of the objects of thi invention is to provide means whereby a concentrated conscious effort of both hands would be required to effect the change of a certain setting in the implement.

Another object of this invention is to provide means allowing an average effort of one hand to open, close and lock the implement when it is in a limited setting.

Still another object of this invention is to. provide means whereby a manual effort of at least one hand would be required to unlock the implement from its locked setting.

Among other objects of this invention is to make said means simple, easy to operate as instructed and inexpensive to manufacture.

To illustrate how these and other objects of this invention can be practically achieved in marking implements or varying constructions,

reference now is being made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of a stylus-like retractile marking implement in open position and comprising structure under U. S. Patent #2304229 (Figure 2 thereof in reference to valves locations) and certain features of this invention.

Figure 2 shows the same implement in closed position.

Figure 3 is a side view of another implement in open position and also comprising structure under aforesaid patent (Figure 1 thereof in reference to valves locations) and features of this invention.

Figure 4 shows the latter implement in closed position.

In reference to the drawings:

Pen nibs l0 and IOA are secured to their respective barrels and the latter are stationary with their respective covers 9 and 9A. Caps 3 and 3B are slidable, turnable and held over the respective barrels and under covers 9 and 9A respectively.

Shut-off valves 2 and 2A when engaged lock air ducts in their respective barrels; shut-ofi valves I and lA when engaged lock the ink ducts between the front and the rear chambers oi. im plements' ink containers. Sleeves 3A and 3C are secured to caps 3 and 3B respectively and engage the valves when the caps are in dependent settings.

In Figures 1 and 2 valves I and 2 are on a diagonal line through the barrel, thus sleeve 3A, when moved by means of cap 3 towards nibv ID from position in Figure 1, will first engage air duct valve 2 whereby ink flow is slowed down. Then, without releasing valve 2, it will engage ink duct valve l whereby the rear ink chamber will become locked from the front ink chamber still exposed to outside. Finally sleeve 3A will assume position as in Figure 2 with cap 3 covering nib l0 and sleeve 3A keeping both valves (I and 2) engaged.

To provide with features of this invention a structure where subject settings depend largely upon sliding motion of the cap like in a pen shown in Figures 1 and 2, sleeve 4 is movably mounted over cap 3 between cover 9 and protuberance 8 which is stationary with the cap 3. Sleeve 4 has a plurality of longitudinal slots 5, 5A, 6, 6A, '1 and a slot not shown, to allow protuberance 8 into the length of sleeve 4 to a full depth of an engaged slot.

When the implement is set in a position as 3 shown in Figure 2, sleeve 4 may be slid from shown position to the edge of cover 9. In its new position sleeve 4 may be turned either way to bring desired slot in line with protuberance 8.

It may be noted that slots 5A, 6A and unshown 1A are much shorter than slots 5, 6 or I. When any of these relatively short slots are engaged with protuberance 8, sleeve l, jammed between said protuberance and the edge of cover 9, will prevent cap 3 from sliding adequately far towards cover 9 to reveal nib I or to allow sleeve 3A to disengage valves and 2.

It may be also noted that sleeve 4 walls or notches separating slots 5A from 5, 5A fromii etc.

are lower or shorter than those separating slot 5A from 6, BA from 7 etc.

Thus it is easier to engage protuberance 8 from, for instance, slot 5 (Fig. 1) into slot 5A (Fig.2) than from said slots into any other slots of the structure. Ifhis difference in efiorts may be easily brought-to bear a difference between one hand average effort from two-hands average effort. Av pure mechanical skill and/or manufacturing requirements may easily determine most desired or advisable means to accommodate said efforts: For instance, diiferences in heights of slots separating notches, or friction between extreme edges of. sleeve :iagainst protuberance 8 and cover 9, a spring of dependent width and/or strength between cover 3 and sleeve 4, etc.

The different lengths of each of the relatively long slots 5, 6 and l naturally depend upon the extent of slide required by implements construction from the cap 3 and protuberance B.

. In Figures 3 and 4 valves lA and 2A are on a perpendicular line through the barrel.

Sleeve 30 engages both valves IA and 2A simultaneously when solid walls thereof slide over 7 said valves.

Opposite cavities, or holes, or off-se'ts'i? and IZA in walls of sleeve 30 may be set over valves IA and 2A respectively. (Fig. 2) whereby both of said valves will remain unengaged when sleeve 30. is slid over; asimilar cavity,,orhole, or an ToiT-set 12B opposite a solid wall of sleeve 30 may be set ov'er either dithe valves allowing such valve .to' remain disengaged while the opposite valve will be engaged under the solid section of sleeve 3. i To provide with features of this invention a structure where subject settings depend largely upon turning motion of the cap like .in the pen shown on Figures 3 and 4, the inner (rear) end of cap .3Bis adapted'as has been described in reference to slotted end of sleeve 4. a

The protuberance v(here fiAlishow stationarily secured tothe pen barrel and'is engageable in slots 5B, 5C, 6B, 60, 'IB and a slot not shown .in cap 313 in amanner substantially the same as protuberance 8 was in its respective slots.

The relationship between relatively short slots 50, 60, 'IC and the larger (longer) slots 53, 6B, l'B'is also substantially the'same except that the relatively long slots 5B, 518, and EB may be all or. the same to each-other length since the setlllIlgQOf the implement'in this type of pen; structure do not depend so much upon longitudinal slide of the cap. Said slots merely have to be long enough to allow sleeve 3C to assume position over valves EA and2A. v f Slot 6B isin line with solid walls of sleeve 30, thus; protuberance A ;when engaged in saidslot, will prevent cap 33 from -turning when the im plement-isused for writing at high altitudes with valves IA and 2A remaining safely compressed under solid walls of sleeve 30.

Slot 5B, in line with off-sets I2 and I2A, when engaged in protuberance 8A, will keep cap 313 and sleeve 30 from turning when the implement is engaged for writing with valves EA and 2A remaining open through said off-sets i2 and slot 1B, in line with offset IZB, when engaged with protuberance 8A,'will keep cap 3B and sleeve 30 from turning when the implement is used for writing with ink duct valve IA open through off-set IEB, and the air duct valve 2A locked under opposite solid section of sleeve 3C. Slots 5C, BC and 10 are adequately short for any one 7 of them engaged-with protuberance 8A to stop cap 33 from sliding far enough towards cover -9A to release nib MA or either of the valves IA and 2A under solid length of sleeve 30, and are adequately deep to prevent cap SE from turning while the implement is carried around.

Cap 313 wall sections or notches separating slots '53 from 50, SE from 60, 'IB from IC are lower than wall sections or notches of said cap separating said pairs from each other, thus it takes less efiort to engage protuberance BA from slot 5B into 50, 6B into 5C, "EB into 'lC than from either slot of eachpair into either-slot of another pair. As in reference to Figures 1 and- 2, this difference of efforts may be again' brought to bear a difference of one from two hands average eiiort, and, in this case also, can be bordered by means suitable to required manufacture: difference in lengths in the separating notches, friction of cap SB extrem rear edge against a convexity on or over the barrel, a friction of cap 3 against the barrel or inner walls of-cover 9A, an adequate spring between sleeve 30 and a convexity-on or over the barrel, etc. ,Any of these methods would serve the purpose and can be determined in the course of manufacture dependent upon desired cost and pen structure.

An operator of a' pen shown in Figures 3 and 4 needsnot to concern himself with the details of concealed mechanism to be in a position to ope'rate the implement easily, eificiently and, while thell'penI-is in the. same: setting, "with oneiharid onlyfandwithout'looking at the pen; 1

Also without looking and still with onehand only the operator may, reset the implement into .a locked. position, ,unlock the pen and reset to writing position. l

Slot 5B may be indicated on the outside of the cap, for instance, with one dot, slot 713 with two dots slot SB-three dots. The clip may be secured stationarily to the barrel always in line with nib ISA and protuberance 8A.

Hence the operator should concern himself with following rules only:

. To fill the implement only when it is open wit 1 dot in line with clip. After filling, if no change of altitude or temperature is anticipated, to close the implement with one hand only and turn the cap as far as one hand effort easily permits, then let the implement alone.

.'I o. open, to pull thecap up withfingers of one'hand, turntlie cap with the-same fingers in-direction it turns and as far as it goes with one hand easy eiior t, then pushthe cap with the same fingers towards clip held in the palm ofthehand. s

If after filling the implement is to be taken to higher altitude-or temperature, to takethe ene: e irh d i116 cover w th sli into another hand, pull cap from coveras' fa'r as it goes and, while in such pulled position, turn either way until two or three dots line up with clip. Then to let the pen go after looking it with one hand effort as described in reference to one dot setting.

Two dots lining is for slight change in altitude or temperature, three dots liningfor great change, such, for instance, as flight in stratosphere.

While specific embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is and will be clearly understood, of course, that broad 'variations within the scope of accompanying claims may be resorted to without jeopardizing this patent protection, and that the various details of constructions may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention as described in one or more of following claims, and it is therefore not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art and the said scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a stylus-like retractile markin implement with slidable and rotary cap and a shut-off mechanism automatically engaged when the instrument is closed and engaged or disengaged, dependent upon different settings of said cap in relation to the barrel, when the instrument is open, a protrusion device with slot apparatus by which device the instrument may be adjusted and kept in a desired setting, and comprising a plurality of parallel slots lengthwise with the instrument and in a slidable and turnable housing, which slots are individually engageable against a protuberance in a cooperating housing, whereby the rotary and slidable parts are held in different and set positions dependent upon circumferential location and depth of the engaged slot.

2. In a stylus-like retractile marking implement with slidable and rotary cap and a shut-01f mechanism automatically engaged when such writing instrument is closed, and engaged or disengaged, dependent upon diiferent settings of said cap, when the instrument is open for writing, a protrusion device with slot apparatus by which device said cap may be kept in a desired adjusted setting, and comprising a housing slidable and rotary over another housing, a protuberance in a pen housing in slidable relationship with another housing, said protuberance engageable in one or another of a plurality of separate, longitudinal and parallel slots in said other housing lengthwise with the pen and open towards the protuberance when the housing is turned to a dependent position whereby the slot is opposite the protuberance.

.3. In a stylus-like retractile marking implement with slidable and rotary cap and a shut-0E mechanism automatically engaged when the pen is closed, and engaged or disengaged, dependent upon diiferent settings of said cap, when the pen is open, a protrusion device with a slot apparatus by which device said pen may be adjusted and kept in a desired setting and locked and open in the same setting with a relatively lesser effort than is required to reset the pen into another setting by means of said device and apparatus, and comprisin in a slidable pen housing a protuberance engageable successively in one or another of a plurality of separate, longitudinal and parallel slots in a pen housing which is opposite the protuberance in the other housing and dependent thereupon and is rotary when slid away from the protuberance, and is stationary therewith when the latter is engaged in one or another of said slots which are lengthwise with the pen and open towards the protuberance, and each has at its open end one of its longitudinal edges longer than the opposite edge, the latter forming an oil-set step towards the housingouter-edge nearest to the protuberance, whereby said step clears from the protuberance before its housings said outer edge when an effort is made to slide the housing away from the protuberance and rotate it for a different setting in relation therewith.

JOSEPH F. KINGSLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,304,229 Andrews -1 Dec, 8, 1942 2,291,859 Andrews Aug. 4, 1942 2,098,528 Andrews Nov. 9, 1927 1,614,341 Biondo Jan. 11, 1927 1,695,407 Anderson Dec. 18, 1928 662,748 Wood Nov. 27, 1900 1,501,222 Lamp July 15, 1924 

